"As a result of farm closures, fewer imports and rising production costs, the supply of mushrooms dropped late last year and has not yet recovered to previous levels. This, coupled with weather-related production challenges, resulted in across-the-board increases in the prices paid to growers," said Laura Phelps, president of the American Mushroom Institute, based in Washington, DC. Ms. Phelps told The Produce News in early May that the "tipping point" for national mushroom supplies was the exit of Franklin Farms in North Franklin, CT, which closed its doors June 1, 2006. At that time

SALINAS, CA -- Colorful Harvest, based here, is now the exclusive grower- shipper for "Green Giant Fresh" melons nationwide. The deal -- which had been in the works for about a year -- was completed Thursday morning, May 3. Colorful Harvest began shipping cantaloupe and honeydew out of Tampa, FL, and Brawley, CA, on May 7, Colorful Harvest Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Doug Ranno told The Produce News. Other California shipping points are Mendota and Firebaugh, and melons also will ship from Yuma, AZ, and Maricopa, AZ. Already there are "pre-commitments of truckload-quantity

BOSTON -- The New England Produce Council hit a home run with its final dinner meeting of the season, held May 9, here, at the home of the city's beloved Red Sox. The event was sponsored by Sunny Valley International, based in Glassboro, NJ. About 100 industry participants joined in a dinner at Fenway Park's EMC Club, a very comfortable dining suite overlooking Major League Baseball's oldest stadium, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2012. An hour-long tour of the stadium, filled with legends of the green baseball venue preceded the dinner. If one wasn't a Red Sox fan going into

MONTREAL -- Three major North American lettuce growers are seeing green in their respective futures. HydroSerre Mirabel, Tanimura & Antle and Next Vegetable, a Mexican grower that was formerly known as Vegetlan, announced strategic alliances and partnerships, here, at a reception May 9 at the W Hotel. Martin Desrochers, president of HydroSerre Mirabel, which is also known as Groupe HydroSerre and is renowned for its hydroponic lettuce grown with floating-raft technology, told those assembled that the three companies' first venture would be a $50 million greenhouse operation in Livingston, TN

A delicacy in Europe, white asparagus is gaining in popularity in the United States, and at least two companies are particularly reaping the benefits. Pompano Beach, FL-based Southern Specialties Inc. is enjoying strong growth in its year-round white asparagus program, said Charlie Eagle, the company's vice president of business development. Mr. Eagle said that Easter typically is a good promotional holiday for white asparagus. Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day also serve as good holidays for the item. "We like it as a holiday item -- it's out of the ordinary," Mr. Eagle said. Peru is the

CHICAGO -- Representatives from Peri & Sons Farms Inc., based in Yerington, NV, took advantage of floor space at the 2007 United Fresh Produce Association's Fresh Marketplace trade show, here, to tell visitors about exciting new developments at the company. Peri & Sons began its operations in 1979, and today the family-owned company grows premium white, yellow, red and sweet onions at its 1,800- acre operation. Talking about the trade show, Director of Marketing Tim Cummings said, "Our primary focus at Peri & Sons is promoting our sweet onion. We are here to talk to retail partners about [the